Tim Grobaty: Long Beach Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske on the rules of the politics game

Gerrie Schipske is the councilwoman for Long Beach's 5th District in East Long Beach.

Question: I know you're not busy because all you do is represent the easy-to-run 5th District.

Answer: I do more than that, but, yes, I do make it look easy. It's a fine art.

Q: I'm still mulling the possibility of running for the 5th, in which case I will squash you like a bug.

A: Wow, that's a sort of violent image. But I term out in 2014, so I won't be running again.

Q: Not even as a write-in?

A: I'm a first-born, a Catholic and a Capricorn, so I believe in following rules. And the people have voted for term limits.

Q: It's in the rules that you can run as a write-in.

A: That's true, but I won't do it.

Q: So, then, you'll be running for mayor?

A: I'm thinking very seriously about it, partially because there are a lot of things I want to see finished. It's taken me a long time to get to this point in city politics, and I'd like to keep going.

Q: It's going to be a long list of people running for mayor in 2014. Maybe Bob Foster as a write-in, maybe Patrick O'Donnell, probably Robert Garcia, probably Suja Lowenthal ...

A: Gary DeLong might be on that list if he doesn't win a Senate seat.

Q: So shouldn't you already be working on your race for mayor?

A: Well, again, it's in the rules that you can't start fund-raising until the year before the election.

Q: Former 5th District councilman Les Robbins told me one of the problems of term limits is that you wind up with all the council members jockeying for the next step up in the Assembly instead of running the city.

A: I think it's disingenuous for anyone in political office to say they're not at least thinking about higher office down the road. When you're elected, it runs across your mind that maybe it's possible to take it to the next level. And some start doing that while in the council, some don't.

Q: What do you hope to be remembered for when your terms end in the council?

A: For my push for transparency. My constituents read my blog, they get my emails, they know what I'm doing. And I'm very proud of Rosie the Riveter Park. I think that's a nice legacy to leave behind.

Q: When I take over, I'm going to make a lot of changes to Rosie the Riveter Park.

A: Like what?

Q: A swing set, for starters. A slide. A cement elephant that kids can climb on and slide down the trunk. Park stuff. It's too contemplative the way it is.

A: Well, it's actually designated as a memorial park. You can sit there and relax or think about the history of people who have fought for the country.

Q: You're also a big aviation nut.

A: The city has a rich history in aviation. We have a reproduction of Cal Rodgers' Vin Fiz airplane at the Convention Center, commemorating his cross-country flight, which he made long before JetBlue did.

Q: But JetBlue doesn't crash 15 times crossing the country.

A: Actually, Rodgers crashed 17 times. But it was still an amazing feat.

Q: Because I have a rich and vibrant life, I watch the City Council meetings on TV on Tuesdays a lot. Is it fair to say you and Mayor Bob Foster don't get along too well?

A: Bob and I get along famously.

Q: Famously bad.

A: No. We've had our disagreements, but off camera he and I talk constantly, trade jokes. We're fine.

Q: Gary DeLong, then.

A: I have to hand it to Gary: He's civil. At times. At other times he's a bit more partisan-directed.

Q: Dogs or cats?

A: I go both ways. I have two dogs and cats. They're all wonderful.

Q: OK, back to my candidacy ...

A: You should take my seminar on how to run for office. One of my competitors in the last election took it.

Q: And she lost, so it's a crappy seminar.

A: No, I give you the tools. How you use them is up to you.

Q: Can I count on you for a lawn sign with a picture of me on it?

A: I will squash you like ... No, I don't want to say that. But I don't know if I want that image on my lawn.